Men’s Soccer to Face Cornell Monday Evening
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer will wrap up their four-match home stand against Cornell on Monday, September 9 at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) and the match will air live on B1G+.
FAN INFORMATION, PARKING & PROMOTIONS
With the start of construction projects benefitting all 800+ student-athletes at Penn State, notably the construction of the Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex at the south end of the facility, elements of the Jeffrey Field match day experience have changed. Due to construction, the grass area behind the south goal will not be accessible to spectators. Spectator entrances are located on either end of Jeffrey Field near the corner flags on the south side of the facility. For more spectator information, as well as a diagram of the facility, click here.
Spectator parking is located in the Stadium West lot, with entrance to the lot located at the intersection of Park Avenue and Stadium West Drive. ADA accessibility is still available on either side of the facility. Spectators wishing to access the University Drive seating area should park in the Stadium West lot closest to the Bryce Jordan Center and walk down the sidewalk to the main entrance on the University Drive side of the facility. To prepay for parking at a discounted rate, click here. Event day parking will be $10 at the main entrance to the lot.
LAST TIME OUT
Penn State dominated St. Bonaventure, 4-0 on Monday. Christian Dionne, Matthew Henderson, Michael Hewes and Ben Liscum all scored a goal apiece. With the victory, the Nittany Lions return back to .500.
Dionne currently leads the team with six points (2 G, 2A). Henderson is second with two goals.
Goalkeeper Fredrick Grundin earned his first career shutout and registered a career high three saves.
2024 SEASON PREVIEW
Head Coach Jeff Cook returns at the helm of the Penn State men's soccer program for his seventh season. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year will aim to return to the conference tournament finals for the fourth time in his PSU career after earning a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Title in 2023.
Assistant Coaches Clint Long (fifth season), Sean Lawlor (second season) and Oscar Umar (second season) also return to Happy Valley to help Cook make another post season run.
Penn State was picked to finish second in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll behind Indiana. Last season the Nittany Lions finished 10-5-4 after falling to the Hoosiers in the Big Ten Tournament Finals.
The Nittany Lions begin 2024 with five openings from last year's starting XI.
The departure of Pete Mangione up front will be vital. The forward accounted for nearly 25 percent of the Blue & White's scoring last season.
Additionally, the exit of goalkeeper Kris Shakes and defender Femi Awodesu will be felt. The duo were a part of a backline that kept opponents to .79 goals per match and seven shutouts.
Penn State returns 14 letterwinners from last season, including Big Ten All-Freshmen honoree Caden Grabfelder. The sophomore is the team's second leading goal scorer from last season behind Mangione.
The Nittany Lions also welcome 12 newcomers to the squad with six freshmen, five graduate transfers and one junior transfer.
THE B1G THREE
Mohamed Cisset, Matthew Henderson and Caden Grabfelder were all selected as Big Ten Players to Watch this preseason. The trio will look to bring their momentum from last season to 2024.
Cisset returns to Happy Valley after an eventful offseason. The defender was called up to the Malian U23 team and made the 2024 Mali Olympic roster. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Cisset was landed as No. 74 on Top Drawer Soccer’s Post Season Top 100 Freshmen.
Larkhall, Scotland native, Henderson had a standout sophomore season as a member of a Nittany Lion backline that contributed to seven shutouts and held opponents to .79 goals per match.
Grabfelder comes back for his second season in the Blue and White. The Northampton, Pennsylvania, native had a dominant rookie season as the top returning point scorer on the 2024 roster with three goals and three assists. Grabfelder was ranked No. 14 on Top Drawer Soccer’s Post Season Top 100 Freshmen.
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN
Redshirt-junior Ben Liscum and junior Matthew Henderson were voted as co-captains this preseason by their teammates and coaching staff.
Liscum appeared in all 19 matches last season, dishing out a goal and an assist.
Henderson started all 19 matches last season, registering a goal and five assists. The defender is the team's returning assist leader.
Next Up: Cornell
SCOUTING THE BIG RED
The Big Red are entering Monday’s match up 1-0-1 after a 2-2 draw to No. 14 Georgetown. Cornell opened their 2024 campaign with a 3-0 win over Marist, where Andrew Johnson, Alex Harris and Alioune Ka notched goals for the Big Red. Connor Miller picked up a pair of assists in the match.
Cornell earned two ranked victories last season over No. 19 New Hampshire and No. 7 Syracuse. The Big Red were the only team to defeat the Wildcats in the regular season last year.
The Big Red returns three of their five 2023 All-Ivy members including Harris and defender Kisa Kiingi. Cornell adds 11 newcomers to their 2024 roster.
Head coach John Smith returns for his ninth season at the helm of the program. Smith accumulated a 62-44-12 record with the Big Red.
THE SERIES
Penn State leads the all-time series, 10-2-3. The last time the two teams met was in 2008 where the Nittany Lions downed the Big Red, 3-1 under Barry Gorman.
Follow the Nittany Lions
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State men’s soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion men’s soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateMSOC, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PSUMensSoccer.